Love Canon Signs with Moonstruck ManagementReleasing New Album On Organic Records

Sprouting from the musical foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville, Virginia’s LOVE CANON is excited to announce they have signed on with Moonstruck Management and Organic Records and are set to release their 4th album, Cover Story, in Spring 2018. For Cover Story, LOVE CANON has decided to take many of the suggestions that they get at their high energy live shows and will feature ten new-to-them 80’s hits and a plethora of special guests. Cover Story is a follow up to their previous efforts, Greatest Hits Volumes 1-3.The musicians, led by guitarist Jesse Harper, are seasoned virtuoso string players of which Style Weekly says, “LOVE CANON doesn’t cover the music of the ’80s as much as kidnap it and take it on a bluegrass-tinged joyride. It’s a general rule of American culture that it takes 20-40 years for a decade to shed its stale stench and get its groove back… LOVE CANON refreshes and extends the originals with affectionate humor and effortless virtuosity. The players… add layers of depth to the still-appealing pop hooks.”LOVE CANON has been touring the mid-Atlantic since 2010 bringing their own raucous blend of bluegrass to the masses. The band’s diehard fans are music lovers first and foremost, drawn to the beautiful high-lonesome stylings of Harper’s guitar and vocals paired with banjo master Adam Larrabee, mandolin pickin’ by Andy Thacker with Darrell Muller holding down the low-end on standup bass. The band is augmented with the sweet sounds of resonator guitar king Jay Starling on the Beard MA-6.“I first became a fan of LOVE CANON back in 2015 when I saw them at a show in Bristol, Tenn. The following year, I was able to work with them as the talent buyer for the Huck Finn Jubilee in California. The guys have always blown me away with their musicianship, unique approach and execution of their live show! We couldn’t be more excited to finally have the opportunity to add LOVE CANON to the Moonstruck Management Roster,” says Josh Trivett of Moonstruck Management.“We are super excited to be working with Josh and his team at Moonstruck. They have proven to be a guiding light and loyal champions of some of our musical heros Lonesome River Band, Ralph Stanley, Russell Moore, Dan Tyminski & The Soggy Bottom Boys and more,” says Harper. “The band is really looking forward to starting this new chapter in our ongoing adventure with Moonstruck at the helm! And with their help we are happy to have found a home at Organic Records and are looking forward to releasing new material with a company that has consistently put out high quality acoustic music. It is a rare and beautiful thing to find kindred spirits who care about the music as much as we do.”“We are so glad to welcome the refined talent of LOVE CANON to Organic Records. They have done something I’ve not heard many artists do. They blend musical styles in a way embody the best of all worlds. If you are a music fan that has only dabbled in acoustic music, LOVE CANON is your gateway drug!” says Ty Gilpin of Organic Records.LOVE CANON and its individual members have shared the stage and studio with many notable acts over the years. Harper and Muller were members of acoustic supergroup Old School Freight Train and they performed shows with David Grisman (who also produced one of their albums), Ricky Skaggs, and Merle Haggard. As a band, LOVE CANON was the backing band for Keb Mo and Jason Mraz at SPARC performance LIVE ART event in Richmond and they also performed as the house band at the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam a couple of years in a row with sits in from Bruce Hornsby and Warren Haynes among others. They’ve toured with Josh Ritter, Keller Williams, and The Infamous Stringdusters and have played festivals around the country including LOCKN’, Jam Cruise, FloydFest, Bourbon and Beyond (as part of Bluegrass Situation Stage), and Gathering of the Vibes as well as having performed live on the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and RTE radio (Raidió Teilifís Éirean – Irish Public-service Broadcasting). Individual members have made their rounds on the music scene and have performed with KD Lang, Emmylou Harris, Sara Bareilles, John C. Reilly, Madeleine Peyroux, Colbie Caillat, among others.Moonstruck Management is a successful music artist management company representing some of the top acts in acoustic music such as Soggy Bottom Boys, Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Cleverlys, and more. They are also the talent buyer for the Huck Finn Jubilee in CA, Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN, Rockingham County Fair in Harrisonburg, VA, Washington County Fair in Abingdon, VA, Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, TN, and more. For more information on Moonstruck Management, please visit moonstruckmanagement.com.Organic Records® is an eclectic home for a variety of artists that are singularly unique and defy categorization. In a time when music is becoming less defined by genre, Organic artists are developing their own musical identity outside the confines of traditional classifications. Organic Records is an independent label based in Arden, NC, near Asheville and they currently represent Front Country, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Aaron Burdett, and Michael Gamble and the Rhythm Serenaders. Organic promotes, distributes, and markets music created by original artists who defy genre categorization. Organic Records is a division of Crossroads Entertainment and Marketing, Inc. who represent Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Balsam Range, Adam Steffey, Flatt Lonesome, The Boxcars, The Grascals, and more. Their team, with decades of music marketing, licensing, distribution and promotional experience, brings artists to the world marketplace. Find out more about Organic Records at www.organic-records.comLOVE CANON ON TOUR:2/2 Fri – The Tin Pan – Richmond, VA2/23 Fri – Garth Newel Music Center – Hot Springs, VA3/17 Sat – Historic Masonic Theater – Clifton Forge, VA 3/24 Sat – Fork In The Alley Street Festival – Roanoke, VA 4/7 Sat – The Peace River Revival – Punta Gorda, FL 5/25 Fri – Station Inn – Nashville, TN5/26 Sat – Chantilly Farm Bluegrass and BBQ Festival – Floyd, VA6/9 Sat – Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery – Gatlinburg, TN6/30 Sat – ROMP – Owensboro, KYMore information about LOVE CANON can be found at www.lovecanonmusic.com, www.facebook.com/lovecanonmusic, www.twitter.com/lovecanon80s, and www.instagram.com/thelovecanon.

Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier Release Let The Steel Play June 16Sacred Steel Meets Bluegrass in this Exploration of the Slide Guitar“two noted masters of the slide guitar” –Andrew O’BrienListen to the Song Premiere of “This Little Light Of Mine” at Live For Live Music

“This is Hall’s Music City dobro meeting Collier’s Sacred Steel from the Deep South in an all-instrumental record, and the result is a full-bodied, highly conversational sound that you will not want to put down.” –Richard Oakley, Listen to the Song Premiere of their version of “Crazy Fingers” at The Poke Around

DENVER, CO — Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters and Roosevelt Collier of the Lee Boys released Let The Steel Play today,June 16, 2017. “This album is the perfect example of something you do strictly for the joy of the music. We shared songs that highlight our slide guitar history, but we also wrote some super cool modern tunes together. We came together through our love of slide and have become close musical partners,” says Andy, “It was engineered by a great slide guitarist in his own right, John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Los Lobos) in Denver CO. So it’s slide top to bottom!”

Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier met in 2012 on Jam Cruise, and began playing music with one another when their paths would cross. Both are sought after sit-in players at festivals throughout the country and known for their dexterity, versatility, and intuitive knack for picking up rhythms and melodies.

Andy comes from the world of bluegrass, and cut his teeth in Nashville’s vibrant country and bluegrass scene having performed with Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, and Dolly Parton (who he is also on two albums with). Roosevelt “The Dr.” was born into the Sacred Steel sound, learning lap and pedal steel at a young age directly under his uncles and grandfather in the House of God church his family attended in Perrine, FL. Roosevelt has performed alongside BB King, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers, and Del McCoury Band.

Let the Steel Play is an instrumental offering that gives the listener something new, yet familiar. Where two traditions unite and form something new and relevant. The slide guitar is not all that common, but it’s certainly a treat to the ear and to the soul.

What people are saying about Let The Steel Play:

“Music so beautiful, you could imagine angels in heaven playing steel guitar instead of harps” —Honest Tune, Kyler Klix

“Different musical worlds bridged by steel strings and glass slides. The resulting sound is a perfect blend of the heavenly and the down home, a religious experience happening casually from the porch of a country home.”
—NYS Music, Eli Stein

“The pair add their own spin to such traditional songs as ‘This Little Light Of Mine,’ ‘Power In The Blood’ and ‘Reuben’s Train’ as well as an inventive cover of the Grateful Dead’s ‘Crazy Fingers’ and more… their playing comes together in a fresh and enjoyable way.” —Jambase

“‘Singing Steel’ has all the hallmarks of what is good about the respective instruments, when played by such stellar craftsmen. They make the strings really pop.” —Flying Shoes Review (UK), Maurice Hope

“This recording feels live; it has that fresh, immediate vibe, like they got one chance at it, and everything worked out beautifully.”
—Michael’s Music Log, Michael Doherty

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters New Album
Out June 9 on Organic RecordsCountry Roots Band from Asheville, North Carolina

“’Learning How To Love Him’ is a prime example of the new intimacy Platt shares with her audience. Her voice, rising and falling above a simple, spare guitar line, is on display in a way it never has been before.” –Elena SeeLISTEN to the song premiere on NPR’s Folk Alley

“A coming-of-age song of sorts, ‘Diamond in the Rough’ is a rock-tinged, rootsy track”–Amy McCarthyLISTEN to the Song Premiere on The Boot

ASHEVILLE, NC — Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters new self-titled album is out today, June 9, on Organic Records. “We’re switching things up a little. After four albums I’ve decided to step out and start using my own name. It’s something that a lot of people have encouraged me to do over the years, and I guess that 2017 just felt right.” says Amanda. “We’re keeping The Honeycutters too because we don’t want to confuse people… really, we’ve always been Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters. I think I’ve just gotten to a place where I feel comfortable enough to be in the spotlight.”

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Amanda is a storyteller by nature with an incredible band backing her. Performing along withAmanda Anne Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith on pedal steel and Stratocaster, Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums and harmony vocals, and Evan Martin on keys and Telecaster. Lyrically driven, the songs on Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters blend the band’s old-school country roots attitude with their shared influences of rock and folk.

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters will tour extensively in US this year and are traveling to Europe for the first time this summer. Tour dates and more information at www.TheHoneycutters.com.

Critical Acclaim for Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters:

“Writing with a maturity that belies her early thirties age, Amanda pens tunes about a couple with a 40-year relationship, reflections of a spouse with a terminally ill husband, break-up, strangers, leaving, the music industry, and, of course, love. Platt is as good a songwriter as anyone with an Americana label by their name and that includes Isbell and Lucinda to name just two of them… You will need to listen repeatedly as the album is lengthy and Platt’s lyrics are so damn real and relatable on so many levels.”
—Elmore, Jim Hynes

“They… deliver a feisty, witty, hard-knock life realism on their records and this eponymous release, their fifth, is like the continuation of a classic serial novel you just can’t put down… My favorite track is ‘Eden’ and I must have listened to it at least five times because it’s just bloody brilliant, cheeky and slightly heart-wrenching all at once: ‘Don’t keep a TV ’cause the news is always bad and it teaches us to want all the things we’ll never have’ and then the storyteller asks to be let ‘back inside that garden, I won’t eat anything that’s fallen from that goddamn tree.’ —That Mag, Jane Roser

“Platt can find a tune and express it exquisitely with a distinctive voice and a sympathetic band… Her wonderful lyrics seem to be an assessment of the people and circumstances that surround her to find the good bits.”
—Americana Music Show, Tony Ives

“Platt opens with the reflective ‘Birthday Song’, warmed in among other things, tasty piano the album is immediately up and running on greased wheels. Blending country with folk and country pop you have Americana music with a capital ‘A’ and it is good!” —Flying Shoes Review (UK), Maurice Hope

“Platt sings like she means it on this country-tinged folk album, and whether or not her nuanced lyrics are drawn directly from real life, they sure sound as if they are… Platt’s vocals convey joy and tenderness and her band provide amiable backup. At its best, this music is on a par with Lucinda Williams’s, which is saying a lot.” —The Morton Report, Jeff Burger

“There is, as with the two before, an easygoing warmth to the album, and a certain kind of knowing. The kind from that comes from being a keen and empathetic observer. From the upbeat ‘Diamond in the Rough’ to the poetic ‘Eden’ to the solemn ‘Long Ride,’ Platt and her band flesh out all that’s real and been missing in country music for lo these many years.” —No Depression, Amos Perrine

“a gem of an album… The collection combines sharp and emotive songwriting with crisp production values. A successful blend of country roots and honky-tonk, but with a defining Appalachian twist. Above it all hovers Platt’s voice – laconic, sultry, pitch perfect and ultimately charming.” —Listening Through The Lens, Rob Dickens

“Amanda Anne is one of the best songwriters I have ever heard – and I have been listening carefully to music for about 55 years. She writes with her heart and her brain and her observations on life, love and other matters of importance are sparkling …Her songs get into your blood and become a part of you.”
—letter from David Whittaker who commissioned the song “Rare Thing” for his wife Holly

Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier Release Let The Steel Play June 16, 2017Sacred Steel Meets Bluegrass in this Exploration of the Slide GuitarAndy Hall and Roosevelt Collier will be doing a Stageit show
Sunday, May 21 at 9:15pm ET/ 7:15pm MT to celebrate the upcoming release!
Tune in → www.stageit.com/andy_hall/andy_hall_and_roosevelt_collier/61242The top 5 supporters will get a signed copy of the cd!

DENVER, CO — Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters and Roosevelt Collier of the Lee Boys have come together on a new album, Let The Steel Play, which is set for independent release June 16, 2017. Let the Steel Play was born out of a love of slide guitar, and a friendship made through music. Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier met in 2012 on Jam Cruise, and began playing music together when their paths would cross. Both are sought after sit-in players at festivals throughout the country and known for their dexterity, versatility, and intuitive knack for picking up rhythms and melodies.

Andy comes from the world of bluegrass, and cut his teeth in Nashville’s vibrant country and bluegrass scene having performed with Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, and Dolly Parton (who he is also on two albums with). Roosevelt “The Dr.” was born into the Sacred Steel sound, learning lap and pedal steel at a young age directly under his uncles and grandfather in the House of God church his family attended in Perrine, FL. Roosevelt has performed alongside BB King, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers, and Del McCoury Band.

Andy Hall & Roosevelt Collier. Photo by Jason Charme

Coming from different backgrounds and methods, yet brought together through slide guitar, Roosevelt and Andy have joined forces to create a musical bridge that emanates a freshness, yet honors both traditions.

The bluegrass tradition is highlighted by classics such as a haunting and melodic version of “A Maiden’s Prayer,” which was written initially for piano in Poland and made popular in the 1930’s in America by Bob Wills who arranged it on fiddle in a more Western Swing style and added lyrics; it was later recorded by Buck Owens and Willie Nelson. Let The Steel Play also includes the 1920’s folk song made popular by Flatts and Scruggs, “Reuben’s Train,” which is jazzed up even more in it’s evolution here.

The time-honored song “This Little Light Of Mine” is played in both bluegrass and gospel music. Andy says, “We chose it because it seemed like a natural bridge between our two styles, and it is just fun to play. Roosevelt’s unique way of playing bass parts on the steel is highlighted in the breakdown section.”

“Power In the Blood” showcase the sounds of Sacred Steel. Written by Lewis E. Jones in 1899, the slides take on a very vocal style here; you can almost imagine yourself in church, feeling the holy spirit!

For a slightly more modern flair they also perform a version of the Grateful Dead’s “Crazy Fingers.” “When we recorded this album I had been playing quite a bit with Phil Lesh, and was doing Grateful Grass shows with Keller Williams, so I certainly had the Grateful Dead on the brain,” says Andy Hall, “‘Crazy Fingers’ has always been a closet favorite of mine. Amazing complex chords that work so well together. Yet the melody is so memorable. I play the melody throughout, and then Roosevelt soars on the intro riff that we repeat at the end.”

Additionally there are 5 originals that Andy and Roosevelt wrote together specifically for this project. From the uplifting “Rosebud” to the fast paced “Remington,” this record showcases not only exceptional slide work, but engaging songwriting. “The Darkest Hour” was written on Hall’s Weissenborn style guitar, which has a mellower, pretty sound and juxtaposes nicely with the gritty low sound of Roosevelt’s lap steel.

In the final song of the album, “Colfax Boogie,” Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass adds his Dobro prowess to make a slide guitar power trio. They co-wrote it while all together in the studio and had fun with three slides all taking turns and playing off each other, a perfect way to round out the project.

Let The Steel Play was recorded at Macy Sound Studios in Denver, CO, and produced by John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Los Lobos). The mastering was done by Fred Guarino (he also recorded The Infamous Stringdusters’ 2015 album Undercover), at Tiki Recording.

Let the Steel Play is an instrumental offering that gives the listener something new, yet familiar. Where two traditions come together and form something new and relevant. The slide guitar is not all that common, but it’s certainly a treat to the ear and to the soul.

Ned Luberecki’s new album, Take Five, is independently released TODAY, March 31, 2017. A master of his instrument and adept in multiple styles Ned recorded at The Rec Room, Ben Surratt’s studio in East Nashville this self produced, the 14-track album is a mix of originals and covers and clocks in at just under 45 minutes.

Take Five is a reflection of Ned’s musical diversity, presenting fiddle and banjo tunes, instrumentals, and traditional bluegrass interspersed with jazz standards, classic Buck Owens, and even the theme to Star Trek. Many of Ned’s musical friends from all walks of bluegrass make appearances, making Take Five a sort of retrospective, reminding us that however we know Ned Luberecki – sideman, teacher, on-air radio personality – that he is respected as both a traditional and progressive player with a style perfectly his own – a harlequin combination of the diverse artists, musicians, and genres he’s ingested.

Take Five is stacked with a remarkable lineup of guest musicians including Missy Raines and the New Hip, Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters, Becky Buller, The Helen Highwater Stringband (Mike Compton, David Grier, Missy Raines, and Shad Cobb), Chris Jones and The Night Drivers, Dale Ann Bradley, and Amanda Smith. Also appearing on the album, Stephen Mougin, guitarist of Sam Bush Band and the other half of Nedski & Mojo, calls it “a sonic glimpse inside the mind of Nedski [that] showcases Ned’s brilliant banjo skills in a diverse range of material, from old-time to bluegrass to jazz and beyond. Way beyond!”

What Folks are Saying about Take Five

“An absolutely joyous, riveting, beautifully syncopated example of the beauty of the banjo. From the traditional to the unexpected, the banjo sings.” —Steve Martin (Actor, banjo player)

“Taken as a whole, Take Five demonstrates Luberecki’s mastery of the five-string. From the opening notes of his own tune, Night Driver to the familiar phrasings of Thelonious Monk’s Blue Monk, Luberecki is making a strong case for IBMA banjo player of the year.” —Bluegrass Today, David Morris

“Journeying across times and genres on this disc, Luberecki’s impeccable playing, adventurous spirit and irrepressible good humor shine throughout.” —International Bluegrass (IBMA Magazine)

“Ned Luberecki is a true ‘master of the five’! This solo recording is a testimony to the incredible breadth of his playing, which I have always admired.” —Greg Cahill (Special Consensus, former IBMA Chairman)

“His playing oozes with personality and character, and this record perfectly encapsulates that. It’s 100% Ned, and I, for one, am not afraid! Ned’s tunes are a joy to hear and his playing is better than ever.” —Noam Pikelny

“If you were introducing someone to the beauty and versatility of the banjo using 2017 releases, there’s only one choice that can accomplish that goal perfectly, Ned Luberecki’s Take Five. From bluegrass to jazz and from progressive to old-time, this album shows what the banjo is capable of. And just as importantly, it shows that tradition and a fresh energetic approach are still an easy pairing in the bluegrass world.” —Lonesome Banjo Chronicles, Brian Swenk

“‘Adams County Breakdown’ is a rollicking freight train from the other end of the spectrum, a triumph of the five-string banjo that cements Luberecki as a world-class musician.” –Grateful Web, Emerson Kerwin

“… the cover artwork for this CD reminds me of the artwork for Time Out, the 1959 Dave Brubeck Quartet album to feature ‘Take Five.’ I could listen to this track for hours, just as I could spend hours listening to Dave Brubeck’s rendition (and have done, actually).” —Michael Doherty

“… the interplay between the fiddle and banjo is hypnotic (See ‘Cleveland Park’). Finally, and most importantly, the album is as varied as possible.” —Wine Compass, Todd Godbout

“Bluegrass, on it’s own, is a fun genre of folk music to get into, but with the humor and other genre infusions Luberecki brings here, it wouldn’t surprise at all if he made a few more fans along the way.” —NYS Music, Rob Creenan

“The backing musicians, compositions, and production are all at the highest levels here and Ned has done himself proud with this widely varied and irresistible project.” —Tony Trischka

“With skill, tone, and taste he comfortably transverses styles of bluegrass, jazz, celtic and more making this a seamless and satisfying set of music.” —Missy Raines (7 Time IBMA Bass Player of the Year, Missy Raines & The New Hip)

“… a full course five-string feast, with savory bluegrass, tasty fiddle tunes, tangy jazz and more. It’s all presented with sumptuous tone, timing that’s just right and a dash of Ned’s irrepressible humor. This is state-of-the-art five-string banjo, cooked up with virtuosity and creativity,” —Bill Evans (banjo player, banjo instructor, and author)

“Ned Luberecki is surely among the most talented and creative artists we have in bluegrass music. It doesn’t matter if he is driving the banjo right through the Becky Buller Band, sharing clever stories from the stage, or hosting one of his programs on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, Ned’s wit and wisdom always shine through… ” —Bluegrass Today, John Lawless

Bill Scorzari’s Through These Waves, Produced by Jonah Tolchin, Released March 10Bringing Together a Cast of Fine Musicians, Scorzari Explores Impassioned & Thoughtful LandscapesAvailable now on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, and CD Baby

Huntington, NY — New York native, Bill Scorzari independently releases his sophomore album, Through These Waves, Today, March 10, 2017. Produced by Jonah Tolchin (Yep Roc) and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Billy Bennett, the album of all original material was recorded over twelve days at the famed Bomb Shelter in East Nashville through the studio’s 1970’s MCI console and mixed to tape. In a recent interview with No Depression, Tolchin calls Bill Scorzari, “one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever heard.” With sincere and robust lyrics, Scorzari’s raspy vocals usher the listener breezily into his world.

“Bill has a scruffy sentimentality that was comforting to behold.” Billy Bennett comments on the recording sessions, “There were humbling moments of marvel for me during the process, as the tremendous cast of musicians populated Bill’s emotional landscapes beautifully. I was privileged to have played a part.”

“One of the most idiosyncratic voices I’ve ever come across,” Laur Joamets expresses. “Bill’s timbre is one-of-a-kind. It’s a great record. I’m proud to be on it.”

Even through all of the chaos in the world, every time you are let down, or hurt, or feel broken, there is a softness within our hearts that will help us to come through and rise above anything that life deals us, without hardening our spirit. There’s a solemn, yet uplifting and gracious feel to Through These Waves, a gentle roll of energy in the songs and the recording experience that is emphasized in the musical collaboration that came about when the musicians entered the studio.

Will Kimbrough says, “I enjoyed playing on Bill Scorzari’s record… Boy, did it turn out fine — thoughtful, soulful songs, with -by God- real music to back them up. Top notch.”

From the Critics:

Bill Scorzari. Photo by Lauren Jahoda

“One of 2017’s best albums so far… The crisp, organic interplay of both acoustic and electric instruments perfectly frame Scorzari’s weathered, raspy voice that many have described as ‘singular’ or ‘idiosyncratic.’ Just to give you some clues, head in the direction of Tom Waits or Malcolm Holcombe. Scorzari’s voice is in that neighborhood but still stands apart. And, then there are his thoughtful, cinematically shaped songs that continue to resonate after repeated listens. Yes, this is a ‘must hear’ for singer-songwriter aficionados.” —Elmore, Jim Hynes

“…once in awhile… just once in awhile… you find one and, man, it’s a rush. Case in point, a compact disc by Bill Scorzari titled Through These Waves…Bill Scorzari is a force. His songwriting is stellar, his picking above par and his voice fits his songs perfectly. The album itself is a knockout… performances are topnotch all-around…I give this a solid A, top to bottom. I give ‘Hound Dog Diggin” an A+ for the groove alone.” —No Depression, Frank Gutch Jr.“Bill Scorzari has a lived-in voice that says, ‘Listen to these songs.’ They spring from the earth and the ocean with an open heart and the wisdom of experience.” –WFUV’s John Platt. Listen in to Bill’s recent interview in WFUV’s Sunday Supper → www.wfuv.org/content/susan-kane-and-bill-scorzari

“Scorzari’s songs are consistently profound, poetic, and emotional; and his voice—as gravelly and compelling as Tom Waits’s—is counterpointed beautifully with strings and, on the gorgeous ‘More of Your Love,’ a female vocalist. This is one of the most compelling albums by a little-known artist that I’ve heard in a while.” —The Morton Report, Jeff Burger

“Scorzari’s songs are often about seeking a kindred soul and in that finding solace. There is a poetic grace that makes them worth listening to and reading.” —Lonesome Highway, Stephen Rapid

“An album that is serene, uplifting, and powerful, Through These Waves is a gem waiting to be discovered.” —The Daily Country, Tara Joan

“Scorzari sings, but his version of singing is more of the spoken poetry with a pulsating vibration timbre that Sam Baker has perfected over the course of four albums and innumerable gigs. He connects with listeners by creating soundscapes that reveal descriptions of mood and atmosphere more than character. You listen and think, Yes—I’ve felt that…” —Fervor Coulee, Donald Teplyske

“… he’s a songwriter of the highest order with a three pack a day voice that sounds nothing like that during every day conversation. When he’s on stage though, that voice will make you pay attention to lyrics that can turn a phrase, make you think or make you thankful that there’s someone out there to relate to.” —Medium, Thomas Gerbasi

“…Scorzari has struck gold on what is only his second album, Through These Waves…His style of music occasionally reminds me of Sam Baker, the wistfulness and precise nature of the songs and wondrous beauty, and arguably his greatest attribute honesty the record is one of the finest I have stumbled across in a long time.” —Flying Shoes Review (UK) Maurice Hope

Through These Waves Track Listing:
1. A Dream of You (5:48)
2. A Brand New Deal (3:12)
3. Shelter From the Wind (5:28)
4. Hound Dog Diggin’ (3:27)
5. More of Your Love (5:23)
6. Holy Man (3:26)
7. She Don’t Care About Auld Lang Syne (4:21)
8. For When I Didn’t See (3:56)
9. Loser at Heart (4:33)
10. I Can Carry This (4:32)
11. It’s Time (3:30)
12. Riptide (4:38)

Danny Barnes is already known as an iconic American musician, a banjo playing innovator who’s earned high praise from everybody from Bill Frisell and Dave Matthews to Steve Martin, who presented Danny with the Prize for Excellence in Banjo in 2015. From the days with his groundbreaking Austin band, the Bad Livers, to his two decade solo career experimenting with electronic music, jazz, old time string band music and more, he’s a genre bending, rule breaking original who prefers to color outside the lines.

Now, with Stove Up, out March 3, 2017, he’s showing us that it was always a choice, that he’s always had the chops to play straight ahead bluegrass banjo with the best of them. With a top-flight band backing him up, Danny turns in an amazing set of tunes that demonstrate his respect for tradition and his commitment to his own musical voice.

“Happily, with Stove Up, our five-string hero steps out of the lab and into the sunlight where his pre-war Gibson can really shine,” says Tim O’Brien. “Producer and guitarist Nick Forster wisely loosens the reins and lets his pack of thoroughbreds set a fast pace around the bluegrass track. Mandolinist Chris Henry, with his bone-dry tone and expanded traditional approach, is a particularly inspired foil to Barnes. Along with Forster, much decorated fiddler Jason Carter, and everyone’s favorite bassist, Mike Bub, they cut through some beautiful territory, including two Don Stover’s compositions—”Black Diamond” and “Rockwood Deer Chase.” Three vocal tracks peek through the instrumentals and give new listeners a look into the quirky mind of Barnes… These are live and lively performances where you can almost hear the musicians smile.”

Recorded in eTown Studios in Colorado, Stove Up was produced by Nick Forster and engineered by James Tuttle. The mixing and editing were done by the great banjo player Scott Vestal and it was mastered by David Glasser at Airshow.

Danny Barnes. Photo by Monica Frisell

Danny says, “After 45 years of practicing, this is the first acoustic bluegrass record I’ve ever made. Nick, Mike, Jason, and Chris are bluegrass royalty! It was a sure enough honor to be able to make Stove Up, a loving homage to the great Don Stover.”

One of his banjo heroes, Don Stover, was the inspiration for this project simply because Don knew how to play bluegrass banjo in a way that fit the style, showed respect for Earl Scruggs and others, but it still sounded like him, had his own voice. Danny delivers on all fronts here, from scorchingbanjo fiddle duets with Jason Carter (“Paddy on the Turnpike,” “John Hardy,” and “Bill Cheatum”) to faithful versions of Scruggs (“Flint Hill Special” and “Fireball”), or a Grandpa Jones tune (“Eight More Miles To Louisville”) to a reinterpreted Rolling Stones song (“Factory Girl”) or his own originals (“Isotope 709,” “Charlie,” and “Get It While You Can”). This generous set of music sounds like what it is – great musicians having fun playing music in real time.

Danny says, “All these tunes on here (except the ones I made up), I’ve been playing and working on since I was a young boy. I’m STILL working on this stuff. My plan = never give up.”

If you’re looking for an antidote to the world’s problems, go find Stove Up, this new Danny Barnes record, and turn it up loud. It’s a thing of joy and beauty!

Kind words about Danny and Stove Up

“My friend Danny. The truth. This is the thing that struck me most strongly when I first heard Danny Barnes and is something that continues to grow stronger and clearer. What we hear from Danny is true. It can be coming from no one else. His story. Whether it’s the songs he writes himself or those he chooses to play. He has lived it. He’s not playing ‘at’ it. He ‘is’ it… Danny’s love of, connection to, and history with this music is long and deep. What a joy now to listen to these songs transformed through his lifetime of experience. It is a wonderful thing… Thank you Danny. Sincerely.” —Bill Frisell

“Danny Barnes represents all that is good about heartfelt music. He has deep passion, exemplary technique, great abilities as a songwriter, richly burnished vocals, and the fearsome desire to break through boundaries while still staying solidly rooted in tradition. He’s as fine as they come.” —Tony Trischka

“For years I’ve said Danny Barnes is the world’s greatest banjo player. It’s the truth, but now with fake news and all the puffery, words have lost their meaning. But that’s okay because the truth is in the music. Listen to DB’s banjo if you wanna hear the truth.” —Robert Earl Keen